Steam-trap



J. 0. HAMMELL.

STEAM TRAP. Arrucmou man ucr. le. van.

Patented May 27, 1919t JOHN o.HA1vr1viELL,or onrcaeaiLLrNoIs.. j i

STEAM-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.l

Patented May 27, 1919.-

Application led October 19, 1917. Serial N o. 197,398.V

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,.JoHN O. HAMMELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, of which the following is a specication. l

My invention relates to steam traps and has particular reference to an improvement on the construction shown in my applicatical to place a screen in the inlet pipe as the pipe will very shortly become clogged. To obviate the difficulty I provide a relatively large lateral chamber at the inlet, place a screen at the junction of the chamber and the casing proper and provide a blow-off contiguous to the screen. The size of the chamber is such that the screen or outlet cannot .become clogged. Furthermore, the construction is such that the screen supporting member serves as a gui-de for the valve stem at its upper end. In the constructions heretofore proposed the stem has been guided in the inlet pipe. This interfered materially with the effective size of the pipe.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view through a steam trap constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the screen and its support.

In the drawings it will be seen that the trap includes a casing having lower and upper parts 10, 11, which are joined by the bolts 12, engaging apertured lugs on the two parts of the casing. Mounted within the casing is the float-valve 13, which is guided at its upper end by means of the stem 14.

The lower end is guided by means of the valve stem 15, whichis held within the cy lindrical projectionl, from the valve mem-A ber 17. The water outlet pipe is connected to the nipple 18, the water escaping vpast the valve stem 15, through `the opening 19. By reason ofthe fact .thatthe cylindrical portion 16, projects upwardly from the bot tom of the casing a considerable distance, the outlet from the casing will be above the floor thereof and sediment such as scale and particles of solid matter which have settled to the floor of the casing will not be drawn into the outlet. It is well known that the discharge of liquid from a vessel through a centraloutlet-and particularly avessel hav-y ing a round bottom, tends to set up a whirling motion in the liquid. Such motion of the liquid stirs up and prevents the deposit of particles of solid matter and the particles are caused to be discharged through the outlet. Furthermore, it is known that the effect of such whirling motion is to cause a vortex at the outlet and materially reduce the discharge capacity. I avoid both of these disadvantages by providing radial walls or we'bs 20, which project inwardly of the casing at a point below the float, three of such webs being shown. These serve to prevent the whirling of the water and o'bviate the difficulties referred to. As the water of condensation enters the casing together with any sediment or scale, the latter is thrown to the sides of the casing by contact with thetop of the float and descends by gravity along 4the walls to the sloping body. lVhen the valve lifts to discharge the water there is no whirling action and the sediment is not drawn into the outlet. It rests in theV groove 21, which surrounds the valve casing and finally is drawn into the recess 22, located at one side of the outlet and below the same. A drain or blow-olf pipe 23, is connected with the recess 22, and when the valve controlling the same is opened the sediment is discharged therethrough. Thus a simple means is provided for keeping the valve free from particles which would tend to clog the same and interfere with the operation. y

As a means for preventing the entrance of solid matter into the casing, I provide the novel arrangement shown in Fig. 1, in which a chamber 24, is formed at the inlet, the chamber being formed by casting a hollow, hemispherical projection on the upper half 11, of the casing. At the lower end of the chamber 24, I mount a Screen 25, which is secured to and supported by a circular frame 26, having a transverse cross bar 27. An aperture 28, at the center of the cross bar 27, provides a guide for the stem 14. Screws 29, are provided for securing the frame or screen in place. It will be noted that the screen is slightly inclined toward a blow-off outlet 30, in order to assist in freeing the surface of the screen from any deposits.

The size of the chamber and of the screened area is such that itis not likely to become clogged so as to interrupt the action of the trap. The provisions described for preventing the entrance of scale and disposing of the same if particles should enter the casing insure the uninterrupted action of the device under all conditions.

The exact form and arrangement shown are not essential and may be varied without departure from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: l

1'. In a steam trap, the combination of a casing having an inlet opening, the opening Leo/1,563

being materially enlarged at the point of entrance to the casing, a screen disposed across the opening, a blow-ofi' opening horizontally arranged at a point immediately above said screen, the screen being inclined downwardly toward said opening, substantially as described.

2. In a steam trap, the combination of a casing having a hollow projection at its upper end, the projection providing an inlet opening and a lateral blow-ont opening, a screen extending across the inlet opening at a point immediately below the blow-out opening, a support for said screen, a oat in said casing, the upper end of the float being guided by said support, the screen being inclined downwardly toward said blow-out opening, substantially as described.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 15th of October, 1917.

JOI-IN O. HAMMELL.

day

fitness DAVID JOHNsToNn.

Copies of this. patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

